Who's your Unsung Hero/Heroine?

[TillyBookClub]

Have you got a book that you love but nobody else seems to know?

Or a writer you worship who never appears on those endless 'Best of the Century' lists?

Or do you reckon an author has been severely under-rated and should be resurrected, back to their rightful place in the literary firmament?

We are looking for all your Unsung Heros/Heroines for our April Book of the Month selection, so post your top favourite here by Monday March 17th and start spreading the word...

[fleacircus]

An extraordinary book called 'Fall On Your Knees' by Ann-Marie MacDonald. It's got beautifully drawn characters and a really broad scope, following four generations of a family, but without that thing where you lose track of who's who. I love it, no one else has heard of it, although I'm sure it won a prize; possibly the Commonwealth Prize for Literature? So not wholly unsung, just unheard of.

[suedonim]

FleaCircus!!! You're only the second person I've 'met' who has ever heard of A-M McD!! I loved that book and have another of hers waiting to be read - The Way The Crow Flies. I can't bring myself to start it because once I do that, it'll be gone, iykwim.

[jumpingbeans]

Bury my heart at wounded knee -Dee Brown, my all time favorite book first read it about 30 years ago, still dig it out now and again

[TillyBookClub]

Fall on Your Knees is MY Unsung book! I couldn't stop thinking about it for months after I read it - absolutely brilliant.

I think AM M is quite famous in the States but not here. Will definitely include her in the selection.

suedonim, I worked on Way the Crow Flies when i was at Fourth Estate. I enjoyed it, but its not quite in the same league as Fall on Your Knees. Still a cracking read though.

jumping beans, I've always wanted to read Bury My Heart. We'll include that as well.

Do encourage any other Mumsnetters you know to put up their favourites here, would be great to get a fairly wide selection.

[suedonim]

Wow, there's a secret AMM fan club out there! It's odd she isn't more popular in the UK, I wonder why that is?

[dropscone]

I love John Greig - Electric Brae is one of my all time fav books, I think he is reasonably well known in Scotland but not much outside ?

[Joash]

Hallucinating Foucault by Patricia Duncker - LOVE IT!!!!
it's about a young PhD student who goes to France in search of the author he is basing his PhD on ... so sad, but lovely at the same time Makes me cry everytime I read it.

[TillyBookClub]

I've often heard of Electric Brae but not read it, would like to.

Am looking up Taylor Mali and Patricia Duncker now, not heard of them before.

So exciting discovering new writers, looking forward to April's bookclub already.

[fryalot]

for gritty realism, you can't beat this I would urge everyone to read it

[EffiePerine]

one of my all-time favourites

www.amazon.co.uk/Moons-Balloon-David-Niven/dp/0140239243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1205155416&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 r=8-1

or in fiction, how about this

www.amazon.co.uk/Gaudy-Night-Peter-Wimsey-Mystery/dp/0450021548/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12051&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 55473&sr=1-2

not sure if they are unsung though - just not considered 'serious' books

[EffiePerine]

I am also v fond of this author

www.amazon.co.uk/Setons-O-Douglas/dp/B000UH5YWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205155708&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

but mostly out of print and def a niche taste

[southeastastra]

my dad gave me that david niven book, haven't read it all yet!

i still love the private papers of eastern jewel, which no one else seems to have read

[EffiePerine]

there another, specifically about Hollywood, called Bring On The Empty Horses. V good as well

[southeastastra]

ooh have to check that one out ep

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Elizabeth von Arnim - not the fluffy ones like The Enchanted April, but the darker ones like Mr Skeffington and Vera.

[mrsruffallo]

I love Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, too
I also adore Jim Dodge

[TillyBookClub]

thanks everyone, am compiling list now - we have a great mix of genres, styles, plots etc so will be a completely eclectic and very cool selection for April.

Effie, the dorothy sayers looks great. Think it might be more fun to include that one as Moon's a Balloon is (relatively) more famous.

I'll pop up the page Wednesday next week - anyone who still wants to put a book forward should put it up here before Monday if poss..

[lemurtamer]

I'm not sure if the following are unsung, but I enjoyed them very much. Louise Eridrich's Love Medicine quartet, though can't remember which is my favourite.
Two in a similar vein are E M Delafied The Diary of a Provincial Lady and Jan Struther Mrs Miniver. They are drily funny and entertaining, and as far as I can remember Mrs Miniver doesn't go down the sentimental road that the film does.
Another book is Peter Abelard by Helen Waddell, but this seems to be out of print, so no good.

[TillyBookClub]

Lemurtamer you're a genius! Louise Erdrich was a major passion of mine about 15 years ago - i'd completely forgotten about her until now. She's not nearly as well known as she should be. I think Love Medicine was the first and the best of the four, perhaps it should be that one.

[lemurtamer]

Sorry for delayed reply, stupid computer has been saying no.
I can't remember her books in detail, but do remember being completely wrapped up in them. I love the way Lulu Lamartine turns up in a story when you least expect it, much the way Calypso does in Mary Wesley's books. I called my hamster Lulu after her.